What is Horse Colic - Signs, Causes, Symptoms and Prevention - Rick Gore Horsemanship

http://www.thinklikeahorse.org/index.html
I talk about colic in horses, signs can be pawing, kicking, rolling, trashing on the ground, sweating, biting at stomach, no pooping and no eating. Prevention can be keeping horses in pasture so they can graze, feed 3 times a day or free choice feeding, good clean water available, exercise/movement, good grass hay, not feeding after hard work, don't feed on dirt or sand, give fiber supplement and general good care of horses. Causes can be stress, over work, bad hay, lack of water, any thing that causes a belly ache, lack of exercise. I talk about you can try and put a horse in a trailer that might be suffering from colic and that may force a bowel movement.

You can read more about clean water and using bleach on my website at this link:
http://www.thinklikeahorse.org/index-2.html#196

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• rick gore
• Horse colic
• horse cramps
• colic prevention
• colic signs
• natural horsemanship
• horses
• horse training
• thinklikeahorse
• equine training
• feeding in pasture
• herd feeding
• natural feeding
• hay in pasture
• herd harmony
• rfd tv
• clinton anderson
• pat parelli
• craig cameron
• feel in horses
• understanding feel
• Soft hands
• softness in horses

[DaddyLJ1]

Hello Rick,

I have been trying to put weight on my 3 year old 16.3 TB-He has been on only alfalfa for 8 mos- He looks very ribby and thin- I have put him on oat barley and oats and small amount of alfalfa two weeks ago.He has more energy but its to soon to see if his weight has increased. Do you think I am on the right track?????

The my other horse will not eat the oat barley, any suggestions??????

[horseawareness]

@DaddyLJ1 : I think I answered you direct to your account, if I did not email me from my web site. Rick

[NJTammy]

Hey Rick, I was wondering your input on Grain. I give my horses Timothy Hay All Day, and then I give them Grain twice a Day and Always with in the same hour of the days when I do. For Example they get about 8 flakes of Hay all day in their Hay Feeder off of the ground and then I feed them between 7 and 8 am their grain and then again between 7 and 8 pm their second feed of grain. The reason so late at night is because it is extremely hot here right now so I am trying to wait for it to cool.

[horseawareness]

@NJTammy : It depends, how much you are giving and why? Is it a treat or needed for weight? Are there supplements added? Lots of factors, feeding all day (free choice) is good so horses don't gobble, they snack all day so less likely to colic, rush to eat or fight over food. Gain can be good or bad, less is more, so if I give grain it is small, maybe 2 cups max, but some give beet pulp, rice bran, oats, senior feed, weight gain powder and 10 other supplements, that is bad.

[TheCurious253]

when horses graze, do they automatically know not to eat the roots of the grass? because there is usually a big chunk of dirt on the roots when you pull grass up with the roots.

[horseawareness]

@TheCurious253 : Horses don't normally pull up roots, they tear grass and eat the top, if they are pulling up roots they could be really hungry, the ground is wet or some horses were not raised on grass and have been fed hay their entire life, so they don't know how to tear and eat grass with pulling up roots.

[BlushRushBeauty]

would putting molasses in the hay be a good alternative if your horse won't take it with water? Oh and btw, I was wondering if its bad to let your horse graze all the time, but only feed it once with grains on the days that you ride it? Or is it okay for it to be able to graze all day and then get hay twice a day but only get fed grain on the days u ride? (I don't do this, but my frends do :S) and I feel like its a bit cruel personally. whats your opinion?

[dahdahjafer]

Great information, have you made a video about fetlock swelling treatment.

[Andrea9514]

@horseawareness Ok, I was just interested in flax seed because I'm heard it makes their coats very shiny.

[horseawareness]

@Andrea9514 : I don't think so, flax seed can be good for horses, but it can cause colic if given too much or too fast. Less is more with horses, so always do and give less than you want, anything that is too fast shocks the system and can react badly. The Metamucil and other fiber collects and helps carry out sand and dirt, just like the special sand remover products sold at tack stores, look at their ingredients and see what is in them.